The Science Behind Kinedu: How We Got Here | Kinedu
The science behind Kinedu · Part 1 of 3

How we built a clearer picture of your baby’s development.

Built with insights from 3.5 million children, so you can see the skills your baby is building and what may come next.

More than a milestone checklist

From checking milestones to seeing how skills grow together.

Then · 2013
By 9 months Sits without support Passes a toy from hand to hand Says “mama” or “dada” Pulls up to stand yes / no · by age · one line per milestone

A checklist of milestones by age.

Now · today

A connected view of how your baby’s skills are taking shape.

  • Reads each answer alongside your baby’s age and other skills.
  • Looks for what’s just beginning, not only what’s already mastered.
  • Expected ages checked against 3.5 million children.
How we got there

Built by Kinedu. Studied by Stanford researchers. Shaped by data from millions of children.

Here’s how the assessment grew from its first version to the one families use today.

1
2,135
caregivers

We tested the first version with 2,135 caregivers to make sure the questions were clear and useful. Stanford researcher Michael C. Frank also helped us review milestones from birth to 24 months.

2
21,861
children

Stanford researchers studied Kinedu data from 21,861 children. They found that developmental skills are closely connected early in life and become more distinct as children grow.

Read the Stanford research →

3
3.5M
children

We looked again, this time at 281 million caregiver observations from 3.5 million children. The same pattern held: skills are more connected early on and become more distinct with age.

That research helped us understand not just when skills appear, but how they build on one another.

The rebuild

One milestone doesn’t tell the whole story.

Instead of asking only whether a skill has appeared, we look at how it’s taking shape over time. Walking, for example, begins long before those first independent steps:

It often starts herePulls up to stand
NextWalks while holding onto the sofa
ThenTakes steps while holding your hand
EventuallyTakes steps independently

Every skill in Kinedu is shown along a path like this one:

Upcoming

Usually develops at a later age.

Reinforce

Expected around this age; still developing.

On track

Showing at the expected age.

Mastered

Showing consistently.

See where each skill is taking shape, not just whether it has happened yet.

How the assessment works

Answer simple questions about what your baby does. That’s it.

You can answer at home, based on what you see every day. Here’s a sample question from the assessment for 12‑month‑olds:

We consider each answer alongside your baby’s age and other skills.

How we interpret your answers

We compare your answers with patterns in caregiver reports across ages. Together, they help us understand which skills your baby is developing. You don’t need special training to answer.

17%48%93%0 mo3 mo5 mo

“Lifts head while on tummy”: share of caregivers reporting it, by age, across the Kinedu population · Kinedu record, 2020–2023 · a population pattern, not an individual baby’s path

What the assessment covers

414 milestones. 46 skills. Four areas.

Physical
From holding their head up to jumping on one foot.
Cognitive
Exploring, solving problems, and playing pretend.
Language
From babbling to words and sentences.
Social-emotional
Connecting, expressing feelings, and playing with others.
What the results mean

What the assessment can tell you, and what it can’t.

✓What it can do
Show which skills your baby is developing and what usually comes next.
Help you prepare questions for your child’s healthcare professional.
Put your observations in context using patterns from other children’s development.
✕What it cannot do
Provide a diagnosis. The assessment supports conversations with a qualified healthcare professional.
Evaluate your parenting. These data describe children’s skills, not the care they receive.
Represent every family. The findings come from families who chose to use Kinedu.
Research reportPDF · full methods and figures Parent’s guidePDF · the findings in plain language

Coupling and Differentiation in Early Development · July 2026 · Kinedu supports developmental surveillance. It is not a diagnosis.

Your turn

See which skills your baby is building.

In about five minutes, tell us what you’re seeing day to day. We’ll help you understand what’s taking shape and what may come next.

Take the free assessmentExplore the Kinedu app

Developmental surveillance. Not a diagnosis.

Next: How skills develop →